The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-07
UNDER THE LASH.
A CONVICTS SEVERE PUNISH
MENT IN CANADA
Tied To a Whipping Post and
Lashed Twenty-Five Times
How He Underwent
the Ordeal.

On Saturday at nine A. MIJofIn Grellsh
received the second and final irstalment
of twenty-five lashcs at the Central
Prison for the crime of which he was
proven guilty two months ago, says a
recent issue of the Toronto MaH. The
punishment was inflicted in presence OF
Warden Massie, Deputy Warden Logan,
DR.. w. T. Atkins, five newspaper re-
porters and about fifty prisoners. AS on
the former occasion Grelish was tied up
to the whipping post in the corridor OF
the southern wing. He was stripped 10
! the waist. The effect of the former
lashes was scarcely noticeable. There
were a few bruises which could be seen
on close examination. The bold front
he presented on the first occasion had
quite disappeared. He had then
vowed that they would not make him
vince, but when he was being tied up on
Saturday by the apparently remorseless
guards he was trembling and quiyerlng
in anticipation of the punishment about
to follow. A guard stood by with the
dreaded lash in his hand. Warden Mas
sic looked on the proceeding, holding an
official looking blue paper in his hand,
which was the warrant for the punish
ment. Promptly at 8 o'clock everything
was ready. The group of convlcts who
had been selected to act as an audience
stood O short distance away under the
charge of a guard. Close behind Grelish
the other spe taters stood. Warden Mas
sic stepped forward, and looking at the
blue paper said in loud voice:
"John Grelish, you were convicted Oh
the 3Oth of June at the High Court 81
Justice, of attempted assault on girl
under the age of ten years. You were
sentenced 10 two months imprisonment
with twenty-five lashes on entering and
twenty-five lashes two weeks before the
end of the term. You ale now about to
receive the second instalmcnt."
There was moments hush and every
body's eyes were fixed on the back ofthe
prisoner.
"One," said Deputy Warden Logan.
The guard with the lash, who had been
standing one pace from the prisoner,
made step backward, swung the lash
around behind him with an under mo-
ton, and bringing it up again over his
shoulder let it fall on his bare back. The
lash had hardly touched him when Glel-
ish shrieked and made a struggle back
ward to get away from the whipping
post. But he was too firmly tied. There
was only small red mark on his back
about four inches in length. With the
regularity of clock the Deputy Warden
continued to count and the strokes fell
with equal regularity. From the third
lash Grelish yelled, "My God, Oh, my
God, murder, murder" Then he called
"Doctor, DOCTOR" in hopes that the med
ical attendant would interfere. Slowly
the flesh began to discolor. From light
red it went to dark red. Then the
lash drew up purple lines which
soon assumed the appearance OF an I'M
mense black bruise. Up till the twelfth
stroke Grelish kept calling on the doctor,
but got no succor from that source. When
"No. 13" was struck he fell down, pre-
tending to faint. But the whipping
post supported him and the lashing con-
tinued. He ceased crying for a brief
space of time, and his body shook like
an aspen leaf. The nineteenth lash made
him Yell again, and from that time until
the end his shrieks were terrible. When
TWENTY-FIVE" was called Mr.. Massie said
'hold," and the lashing stopped. Grel-
ish again fell down apparently in faint.
The appearance of his back was just
what it would be if black patch were
painted on it, occupying a space about
six inches by ten inches. The skin was
in burrows, but not broken in any place.
After the guards had loosened his hands
Grclish was told to put on his coat. lie
picked it off the floor and sullcnly did
as he was told. He then walked into
cell and Law down on the floor. Then he
was locked up.
Warden Massie said that the worst
o rt of the lashing was the anticipation.
Before the first dose Grelish thought he
could stand it all right, but afterward
he was in mortal terror Of the second in
stalment. These exhibitions had little
or no effect on the prisoners who wit
messed them. BY simply laying on the
lash without drawing it promptly away
the skin was not broken. 1t was never
theless severe Punishment, and felt like
a burning fire consuming the flesh Gre!,
ish was strapping fellow, and could
bear q good deal more than had been
given him. He seemed to be more like
beast than man.
The guard who had charge of Grelish
said that he passed wakcful night, but
when breakfast came demanded full ra-
tions. lie ate heartily, though it was
evident that there was something prey
inc on his mind. Grelish works in the
machine shop, and was required to re-
.. ., ,l,,t,, ~ tho oftnrnOon